WASHINGTON (January 11, 2024) The Alliance to End Hunger applauds the successful launch of a permanent Summer EBT program in 35 states, as well as five U.S. territories and four tribes. The announcement of the launch – made by the U.S. Department of Agriculture – stated that nearly 21 million children are expected to benefit from the program.
“Summer months for school-aged children struggling with food insecurity tend to be exceptionally hard without school-provided meals,” stated Eric Mitchell, president of the Alliance to End Hunger. “With the expansion of this program, millions of children will receive crucial nutrition to enable them to thrive.”
Summer EBT has been both a priority for the Alliance network surrounding the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, as well as a general priority of the Alliance’s advocacy efforts. According to USDA, Summer EBT will provide “$120 per eligible child for the summer to buy food at grocery stores, farmers markets or other authorized retailers – similar to how SNAP benefits are used,” totaling $2.5 billion in grocery benefits.
“We are incredibly excited about the impact this will have on childhood hunger in the U.S.,” stated Mitchell. “I believe the success of this program will drive even more participation next year, and will reap benefits for countless kids for years to come.”
